Boise creates bicycle safety response team

Boise Mayor David Bieter and the City Council on Wednesday announced the creation of a bicycle safety response team to immediately review current efforts to promote road safety and to recommend ways to improve safety for cyclists.

The eight-member team includes partners from ACHD, IDT and the Ada County Prosecutor's Office, as well as city staff from the Mayor's Office, Boise Police Department, the City Attorney's Office and Planning and Development Services.

"They are going to be reaching out to cycling groups and motorist groups as well as residents," said the mayor's spokesman Adam Park.

The team will focus on the following questions, based on the League of American Bicyclists" "Six E's" approach to cycling equity:

Engineering: Do plans for bicycle-related road improvements align with current and future needs? Do planned improvements need to be updated or reprioritized? Are there locations where immediate changes (e.g., improved visibility, better signage, restriped lanes) are needed to improve safety?

Enforcement: What do updated data reveal with regard to collisions, near collisions, and high-complaint areas? In which geographic areas, and on what violations, should law enforcement direct enforcement to maximize safety?

Education: Are the best possible and most appropriate education programs in place for cyclists of all ages? Are there additional opportunities to educate motorists on bicycle awareness and related driving behavior?

Encouragement: Are there additional opportunities to involve public and private agencies and the community in advertising campaigns, promotions, events and other means of promoting safe cycling and driving.

Equality: Are new or revised laws needed to offer greater protection to cyclists and ensure the equal legal status and equal treatment of cyclists in traffic law?

The response team is expected to issue its report to the Mayor and City Council by the end of August.